Obituary published on Legacy.com by Canale Funeral Directors - Memphis on Jun. 27, 2025.
Minna Treadwell Thompson Glenn, 76, died unexpectedly and peacefully at her home in
Memphis, Tennessee, on May 22, 2025. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, friend, church and community member whose compassion, intellect, and gentle spirit touched the lives of all who knew her.
Born in Memphis on October 13, 1948, Minna was the daughter of Samuel Alexander Thompson, Jr. and Minna Potts Thompson. She graduated from St. Mary's Episcopal School as a National Merit Finalist and Athlete of the Year in 1966. She especially enjoyed basketball and volleyball in high school; she was elected Honor Council President and Friendliest in her class. Her classmates from St. Mary's remained her lifelong friends. She went on to earn a degree in Biology from Mary Baldwin College (now University) in 1970 where her mother, grandmothers and aunts on both sides of her family had attended.
Throughout her life, Minna was deeply engaged in the city of Memphis. She was motivated by her Christian faith and by the familial example of several generations of Memphians. She faithfully served as a deacon and elder at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, where she was a longstanding member and a regular participant in the weekly More Than a Meal ministry, providing food, relational care and a weekly church service to the homeless. She volunteered at the McMerton Gardens community garden in Binghampton, Room in the Inn, and headed the Idlewild committee offering a biannual free Legal Clinic. She was known for her inclusive nature and was a thoughtful, reliable presence in every endeavor in which she participated, from her neighborhood Fourth of July celebration to the monthly book club she enjoyed.
Minna's professional life reflected her intellectual curiosity and adaptability. She worked in laboratory research at the University of Tennessee Health Center, in advertising with Ward Archer & Associates, and later in financial services with Summit Asset Management. She was always learning whether it was becoming a master gardener or taking courses in finance and business.
Minna loved reading, gardening, traveling with her husband Alan, and spending time with her family and friends. She and Alan were passionate about animal rescue and shared their home with rescue dogs over the years.
She was predeceased by her husband of 42 years, Judge Alan Ewing Glenn, and her parents. She is survived by her cherished son Andrew Alexander Glenn. She is also survived by her brothers, Samuel Alexander Thompson III (Frances) of Memphis and Henry Buckner Potts Thompson (Marty) of Chicago; her sister-in-law, Nancy Gollobin of Cincinnati; along with beloved nieces, nephews, and numerous cousins including the Wellfords, the Eddins, the Beasleys, and the Archers, with whom she grew up.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, May 30th, at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, with a reception to follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Idlewild Presbyterian Church and the ministries there in which Minna served (1750 Union Avenue, Memphis TN 38104) or to a
charity of the donor's choice.
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